Process for making mercapto alcohols

Abstract

A process for the production of mercapto alcohols wherein an epoxide is reacted with excess H 2 S, the excess H 2 S is separated from the mercapto alcohol, and the thus separated H 2 S is subjected to reaction conditions sufficient to cause entrained epoxide to be converted to mercapto alcohol before the H 2 S is compressed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a process wherein a mercapto alcohol is produced by the reaction of H 2  S with a vicinal epoxide under suitable reaction conditions, excess H 2  S is separated from the mercapto alcohol product and compressed for reuse, the improvement comprising subjecting the separated excess H 2  S to reaction conditions sufficient to cause entrained epoxide to be converted to the mercapto alcohol before the separated H 2  S is subjected to compression. 
     
     
       2. A process according to claim 1 wherein H 2  S is reacted with liquid ethylene oxide to produce beta-mercaptoethanol. 
     
     
       3. A process according to claim 2 wherein the separated excess H 2  S is contracted with heated beta mercapto ethanol to raise the temperature to a level sufficient to cause entrained ethylene oxide to react with the H 2  S. 
     
     
       4. A process according to claim 3 wherein the separated excess H 2  S is contacted with a countercurrent flow of the heated beta mercaptoethanol. 
     
     
       5. A process according to claim 4 wherein H 2  S and ethylene oxide are reacted in a loop reactor and excess unreacted H 2  S is separated by being vented from the loop reactor. 
     
     
       6. A process according to claim 3 wherein H 2  S and ethylene oxide are reacted in a loop reactor and excess unreacted H 2  S is separated by being vented from the loop reactor. 
     
     
       7. A process according to claim 2 wherein H 2  S and ethylene oxide are continuously added to a reaction zone while beta mercapto alcohol is continuously removed. 
     
     
       8. A process according to claim 2 wherein H 2  S and ethylene oxide are reacted in a loop reactor and excess unreacted H 2  S is separated by being vented from the loop reactor. 
     
     
       9. A process according to claim 1 wherein the separated excess H 2  S is contacted with a heated substantially inert fluid to cause the temperature to raise to a level sufficient to cause entrained epoxide to react with the H 2  S. 
     
     
       10. A process according to claim 9 wherein the substantially inert fluid comprises the mercapto alcohol which would result from the reaction of H 2  S and the alcohol.